Using Acupuncture to Fight Obesity

As we’ve said before, lifestyle modification, bariatric surgery, and weight loss medications are the three main approaches to weight loss. While each approach can enable you to lose weight, all three of these approaches have associated pros and cons. However, acupuncture may be an alternative weight loss tool with few associated problems.

Here are some of the problems associated with the typical approaches to weight loss: Lifestyle modification, which includes diet and exercise programs, is difficult to adhere to. Weight loss medications produce negative side effects. And weight loss surgery may necessitate difficult lifestyle changes while also precipitating associated complications.

So, acupuncture may be worth considering. It is believed that acupuncture helps a person lose weight by suppressing the appetite and by raising the body’s metabolism. To gain insight into the effectiveness of acupuncture in combating obesity, researchers at Peking University in China will perform a detailed review of past cases where acupuncture was used to treat obesity. The review will cover a five year period.

Acupuncture has already been shown to be effective in other treatments including some areas of pain reduction. And acupuncture appears to produce very few negative side effects. So if the Peking University review results demonstrate that acupuncture is an effective treatment for obesity, acupuncture may become an important obesity treatment.

Acupuncture would also become another service that bariatric or medical weight loss centers could offer their potential or existing clients. And acupuncture could provide a competitive advantage to a bariatric or weight loss center.
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